Newcastle take on Stoke tomorrow in what is the first of two home league games over the Christmas period – a rare occurrence for fans of Newcastle who are usually subjected to away day travel early on a Boxing Day morning.
The game is almost sold out so a bumper Boxing Day crowd will be assured, and why not after a run of results which has seen expectations raised from wondering if we’ll flirt with relegation to now pondering if we could seriously mount a challenge for a space in the Europa League, or perhaps even more. One game at a time though…
Newcastle:
Cheik Tiote will miss the match through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Crystal Palace at the weekend. However, long-term absentee Ryan Taylor and calf injury victim Jonas Gutierrez aside, Alan Pardew has a fully fit squad to choose from.
Stoke:
Former Magpie, albeit briefly, Stephen Ireland is available for selection again after sitting out against his parent club Aston Villa last weekend as per the terms of his loan agreement. That means that Robert Huth is Mark Hughes’ only absentee as he recovers from a knee operation.
Previously…
Both matches last season were won by the respective home team, both with a 2-1 scoreline and both involving late goals.
The theme kind of flows throughout history as both sides have been traditionally strong on their own patch. As this is at St James’ Park we’ll focus on fixtures in the North-East. A total of 39 games have seen United win 28, Stoke picking up just four victories and the other seven meetings ending in a draw.
Overall the head-to-head is a bit closer owing to Stoke’s superior record in the Potteries. A total of 79 matches have yielded 37 wins for Newcastle, 24 for Stoke with 18 draws making up the numbers.
Stats and facts…
Newcastle have won three of their last four matches against Stoke.
United have lost six of their last seven Premier League matches played on Boxing Day.
Both sides have lost just once in the last eight league outings.
A win for Newcastle would be the 200th Premier League victory to be recorded at St James’ Park.
This is only the second Boxing Day home game for Newcastle in the last 12 seasons.
Final thought…
In much the same way Crystal Palace had, Stoke have also improved of late. Things weren’t looking good for them but a notable result against Chelsea followed up by a win over Aston Villa seem to have them heading in the right direction. It won’t be easy.
Once again the onus will be on us though and once again we must match the fight of Stoke before our quality can shine through. Our run will come to an end at some point and whilst I’m enjoying every minute of it right now, I still can’t see us ending the season where we are now although I don’t think we’ll be too far off it.
Having said that, the longer this run continues the more I’ll have to believe that we might just pull of an upset in the league this season. We’ve already proved a lot of people wrong so is there any reason why that can’t continue?
Howay the lads!
Date: Thursday, 26th January, 2013
Time: 3pm
Venue: St James’ Park
I had a think about this and with Arsenal in mind on Sunday I concluded to go…
————————Krul————————-
Debuchy——Willo——Collo——-Santon
———-Cabaye—————-Anita———–
Sissoko————-HBA—————-Gouff
———————–Cisse————————
With a strong bench and resting Remy and Tiote (through suspension) for Arsenal. I think Ameobi might get on as well to add a physical force against Stoke, but rather than fight fire with fire; I would fight fire with water and outclass them on the deck.
DJG(Quote)
I’m going for a win 2moro, I expect Brazilliams and Collo to keep Crouch and Co quite enough for us to score a couple.
2-0. Sissoko & Ben Arfa..
Toon Toon
mark(Quote)
Is it a good idea to play gouffran vs stoke? There is no way he’ll have the same energy levels vs arsenal if he does play tomorrow.
I wouldn’t want cabaye or anita to be tired for arsenal either so i’d prefer to rest them.
Would it be better for hadaira & mbiwa to come in against arsenal or stoke?
I think we can winboth games but team selection is going to have a big impact woth such a short rest period.
KK(Quote)
KK – don’t think it is wise to make too many changes to a winning team.
even tho I kind of agree with your logic.
tbh Pardew has some difficult decision’s to make.
It’s tough with so many games coming up so close together.
He has got a lot of dubious fans back on board, but it would be so easy to blow it all with a few well intentioned mistakes.
The temptation to not change a winning team would be the easy option for him.
Who’d be a premiership manager eh?
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
KK
I think we should just go for the 3 points against Stoke (remember the one game at a time principal) and then think about Arsenal. Remember Arsenal have a pretty small squad with few potent strikers and they are playing the same amount of games and then travelling to Tyneside. Lets just get Stoke beaten first buddy.
DJG(Quote)
I consider playing fancy,skillful players such as ben arfa against stoke, and leave Shola the big targetman for Arsenal type of game.
My idea. 😉
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Squad: Cheick Tiote is suspended while Moussa Sissoko is one booking away from a one match ban. He needs to avoid a booking against both Stoke and Arsenal if he’s to hit the 31.12.2013 cut off point when they’re set aside.
If Sissoko does get booked or so, will we see Jonas back in first team? I miss Spiderman and his way of earning fouls. 😆 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Why rest everyone against Stoke?
Our strongest team against Stoke should win. Our strongest team against Arsenal will struggle.
Too many people getting too clever.
Play our best team against Stoke. Get the three points and then think about Arsenal.
JJ(Quote)
Only change I’d make for Stoke is Cisse for Remy.
And with Tiote out I’d consider Colo DM with Mbiwa at centre back.
JJ(Quote)
Morning all, hope you had a good Christmas. My best pressie will be another win today, so here’s hoping . 😉
Toonsy, hope you had a good day with the lad 😀 😎
Sharpy ,from previous blog, No, no Samba kit but he got ,Toon pj’s, t.shirts and Trainers amongst his gifts 😎 And I got a Toon 2014 desk diary from one friend and a Toon calendar 😀 . Remy ,Saylor and Cabs all feature which is funny since we could lose all three 😉 .
Anyway, be interesting to see how we cope today without Tiote in MF , think I would give Cisse a run out too, see how he looks ,can always sub him if he looks unlikely to get a goal.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – sounds like you had a very black n white Christmas 😆
I got the boy the metal wall plaque for his room. I’m not sure it was appreciated as much as his Thomas toys but it looks bloody good on his wall 😉
As for today, the only change I was thinking was Jonas for the missing Tiote. I think a midfield of Cabaye, Anita and Jonas would be very industrious.
I would think 3 points against Stoke would be slightly easier to come by than 3 points against Arsenal. But certainly 3 points against Stoke would keep the confidence flowing into the Arsenal game. I definately wouldn’t be making wholesale changes for the sake of it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jonas has a calf injury sharpy
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Boots – the useless *****, get rid! 👿 😀
In which case go with Shola up top. Remy seems more of a goal threat playing off him
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy@13, I would like to see Cisse get a game, see if his hunger for goals has returned.
KIMTOON(Quote)
@bb – 4
You agree with my logic because it’s logical. That’s how games are won.
We didn’t make enough changes to our ‘winning team’ vs swansea & that’s why we dropped 3pts. All of the players tried in that game tried but their bodies were too tired.
KK(Quote)
@djg
Arsenal do have a smallish squad, they’ve had less recovery time & they have to travel = a very good time for us to play them (& win!).
Our first 11 can give any team a good game. If they’re all fully rested vs a tired arsenal, it’s a real possibility of us picking up 3pts.
Plus a rested cabaye will have a point to prove & might just play his best game so far vs arsenal.
KK(Quote)
@jj
Our strongest team vs arsenal will not struggle. We’ve already beaten spurs, man utd & chelsea.
There is no reason why are strongest team should struggle vs arsenal especially a midfield with tiote, anita, cabaye & sissoko – any team will find that a real challenge.
Too many people getting too clever?
Too many people getting too clever = considering colo as dm with mbiwa at the back!
KK(Quote)
Our
KK(Quote)
Anita in for Tiote and Cisse in for Remy for me Remy needs to learn hes got to work more to stay in the team.
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<<< would also point out collo aint no DM 😆 god help us if he dos that way lacking in pace to play there 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Wonder if we will see Bigi or Marveaux start today with Tiote and Jonas both out , i would go with Bigi . Hope we play our strongest 11 and go for the win and as some on here have said put this one to bed before thinking about Arsenal .
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